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Milwaukee County Zoo budgets for rhino habitat opening, pushes forward with front‑entrance redesign and safety upgrades
Summary
Zoo leaders told the county finance committee the new rhino/hippo habitat is near completion with a planned winter opening, outlined capital projects including a front‑entrance admissions reconfiguration and roof/HVAC work at the Zufari building, and described safety and traffic improvements tied to a proposed $13+ million front‑entrance project.
Milwaukee County Zoo leaders told the County Finance Committee they expect to open a new rhino habitat in December and asked the committee to fund ongoing capital projects including a front‑entrance admissions reconfiguration and roof and HVAC replacement at the Zufari building.
Zoo Executive Director Amos Morris and Deputy Director Bureau Westfall presented the zoo’s operating and capital plan and highlighted recent successes (animal births, accreditation awards and program expansions) and challenges (attendance pressure, construction impacts and deferred maintenance). The zoo’s recommended 2026 operating budget showed an expenditure authority of $22,664,000 and revenue budget of $22,668,000, producing a small negative tax levy figure in the draft presentation; zoo staff described a…
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